A Fresh Opinion

Children and Ritalin

To quote Dr. Joseph Mecola from his web site:

"Prescriptions for Ritalin are up 600 percent this decade. If the current rate of increase continues, some 8 million American schoolchildren will be on the drug next year. The United States uses five times more Ritalin than the rest of the world COMBINED."

It almost seems like a race against time. The major contestants in this race:

1) The psychiatric profession and the pharmaceutical companies intent on producing "customers" for life and

2) You, me, other parents, educators and the general public who are finding out every day about the dangers of drugging our country's children.

Did you know that Ritalin and cocaine share virtually the same properties? Did you know the list of DOCUMENTED side effects for this drug include aggression, hallucinations and suicidal thoughts?

There are so many other factors involved with the child who gets quickly shunted over to the psychiatric/pharmaceutic solution. What about his diet? Is he getting adequate nutrition? Lack of certain nutrients cause symptoms identical to those a misguided psychiatrist will quickly label as "ADD" or "ADHD."

Does the child have allergies? These also can produce oddly similar symptoms.

Oh, did I mention nutritional deficiencies and allergies are treatable? With a bit of care and common sense these can be rectified in your child. And guess what? You DIDN'T HAVE TO DRUG THE CHILD.

Here's a chilling fact: Some schools get kickbacks for labeling children. A financial incentive for labeling children who could then end up on drugs. I understand that schools have financial pressures, but this is NOT one of the ways to relieve that pressure.

So if you are being pressured to put your child on Ritalin or other psychiatric drugs, do your child the biggest service you could possibly do and get informed first. Don't push a cocaine-like stimulant into your child's brain because someone believes it will help.

Here are a couple of sites to find out more:

Fight for Kids

Dr. Mary Ann Block

Does Psychiatry Produce a Cure? / How Scientific is the Psychiatric Evaluation?

Parents and Kids Getting Along

I'm at one of my favorite places: the cafe at Barnes and Nobles. It gives me a chance to get out of the office, sip a cool one and observe the most incredible thing happening on this earth: people.

I'm surprised by a short exchange between what appears to be a daughter and her mother (very good resemblance). The daughter is sitting at a table underlining some items in her book when her mom walks up to the table and timidly stretches over to say something to her. The daughter does not look up, says something short and the mom fearfully kicks back and withdraws.

I'm a bit saddened on two scores. Saddened for the mom who is afraid of someone very important to her. Saddened for the child who has lost the glow of respect for one's parents.

Now I may have misperceived this exchange. It's possible these two were having an off moment and normally they have a great relationship with each other. Regardless of the correctness of my observartion, I'm reminded of how often kids give their parents a hard time: the 8 year old in the grocery store screaming at the mom to buy him something RIGHT NOW; the ten year old who curses at the parents who won't let him go out to play after dark; the teen who defies her parents guidance and gets into trouble.

Before I go any further, I will confess that growing up, I was guilty of all of the above and then some. I could blog every day for the next six months listing out one thing after another that caused my parents to age prematurely.

Back in the day I wish I had read and taken to heart the booklet known as "The Way to Happiness." If I had, my life growing up would've been quite different and I would've spared both of my parents considerable grief.

The Way to Happiness is an astounding booklet. It is a common sense guide to a happier, more successful life. Translated into 96 different languages, it has helped people the world over.

If you're a parent, get yourself a copy of The Way to Happiness Activity Book. I highly recommend that.

There is even a Way to Happiness eBook that costs $5 for a dozen copies.

The Way to Happiness is simple and powerful.

Enjoy!

*precept: a rule on which a way of thinking or behaving is based

 

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When You Let Children Help, All Kinds of Good Things Happen...

PERM, RUSSIA: When an 8-year old of this Ural mountains city learned about the Scientology Volunteer Ministers, it was not the first time she wanted to help others.

But it was the first time she learned how.

After she studied the simple but powerful technique of delivering Scientology assists, the young girl began helping much older people, who visited the Volunteer Minister tent in search of relief from the pain and suffering they were experiencing.

I borrowed this picture and copy from The Scientology Today website. The picture and story was just so compelling to me.

The website goes on to mention a very interesting quote from L. Ron Hubbard regarding children:

"You have no right to deny your child the right to contribute.

"A human being feels able and competent only so long as he is permitted to contribute as much or more than he has contributed to him."

There are many ways children try to contribute. When they're very young, their contribution may simply be "making us smile." When that happens, be sure to acknowledge them. They will feel that they've gotten through and have "done their job." Children want to contribute and will attempt many ways to do so. If parents (and others around them) do not accept these efforts to contribute, they will find OTHER ways to contribute, and these "other" ways may not make you smile.

To reiterate, Mr. Hubbard said: "A human being feels able and competent only so long as he is permitted to contribute as much or more than he has contributed to him." What if your child is somewhat older — 7 or 8 or even a teenager — and you've never stressed this point of contribution and you're now witnessing a child that's not the pure joy you anticipated? What to do?

Well, the solution is to make it very okay for your child to contribute. Give him/her some easy things to do that are helpful. Give the child some wins on contributing. Acknowledge him/her when any positive contribution occurs. The idea is gently and gradually increase the child's WILLINGNESS to contribute. If you slowly but surely accomplish this one feat of getting your child to contribute "as much or more than he has contributed to him", you will see some VERY positive changes in your child.

It may take a bit to accomplish this, but it is worth every effort on your part. Do NOT try to enforce this on the child all at once. Forcing contribution has never been a winning strategy. Bring it about gradually and at a pace your child can handle and your child's mental well being will tremendously improve.

Think about it for a second. Our entire society is based on this idea of "exchange." When people exchange properly with others, life seems to go very well for them. When people do NOT exchange well with the world around them, well, life can be pretty rough.

So let's make sure our children are ready for the world by ensuring they are allowed to contribute!

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